Health & WellbeingHeartProvoking a Reaction
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Provoking a Reaction

By Sally - Silversurfer's Editor Mar 17, 2016

You can’t see it and there are no obvious symptoms, yet elevated cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, and it affects millions. To raise awareness Flora ProActiv and HEART UK disrupted journeys on the London Underground.

Flora ProActiv made the invisible visible – using men dressed in cumbersome yellow suits to illustrate elevated cholesterol in arteries, whilst making a parallel with the underground, the arteries of the city. The aim was to encourage commuters to find out more about their cholesterol levels – and it certainly had an impact.

Imagine the London Underground as the arteries of the city, through which the capital’s commuting energy flows. The cumbersome men in yellow suits aren’t going to help that journey, are they? Now think of your arteries pumping blood around the body to your heart and your cholesterol level. Do you know what your cholesterol level is?

Elevated cholesterol is a major risk factor of Coronary Heart Disease. This is why it is important to know whether your cholesterol levels are raised and if so, what you can do about it.

Whilst 56% of people in England have elevated cholesterol*, hardly any of those see cholesterol as a problem. That’s partly because you can’t tell by looking at someone if that person has elevated cholesterol – it usually doesn’t have any symptoms.

All of this goes some way to explain why they sent those overblown yellow men to the London Underground. They wanted to provoke a response and encourage people to take a simple test to get their cholesterol levels checked. In partnership with HEART UK, Flora ProActiv want to raise awareness of the importance of cholesterol and show you how just a few simple changes can make a big difference.

By adopting a healthy lifestyle, following a balanced diet and eating Flora ProActiv, containing plant sterols, you can really help lower your cholesterol**. And with just 1.5–2.4g of plant sterols consumed daily, you could see your cholesterol drop by 7-10% in only 2–3 weeks.

There are two main ways to get your cholesterol levels checked:

  1. The first quick way is to visit a high street pharmacist. Many high street pharmacists will offer a cholesterol check at a modest cost and it can be done there and then, usually without an appointment.
  2. The second way is at an NHS Health Check. The majority of adults over 40 will be invited every 5 years for an NHS Health Check by their GP. Depending on where you live, you could even get an NHS Health Check done in a mobile unit, in a supermarket or even at a tennis or football club. To check where else you can get an NHS Health Check visit the NHS Health Check website here.

For more information on how to lower your cholesterol, head to – http://www.floraproactiv.co.uk/

* According to the Health Survey for England 2011

**Flora ProActiv contains plant sterols. A daily consumption of 1.5–2.4g of plant sterols can lower cholesterol by 7–10% in 2–3 weeks as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle with sufficient fruits and vegetables. Plant sterols have been shown to lower blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a major risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease.

This Article is sponsored by Flora ProActiv

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Sally - Silversurfer's Editor

Mother of three grown-up daughters I am the ultimate multi-tasker and am passionate about my role as Silversurfers Website Editor and Social Media Manager. Always on the lookout for all things that will interest and entertain our community. Fueling fun for the young at heart!

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